Dunlewey Addiction Services LTD (DAS) was founded in 1987 and has been providing specialist services to those experiencing addiction issues ever since. We have branch offices in Belfast, Lisburn, Ballymena, Armagh and Portadown with access to satellite bases across the island of Ireland. Dunlewey Addiction Services LTD offer a free and confidential counselling and mentoring programme for those experiencing difficulties with their own, or other people’s substance misuse or gambling issues. Dunlewey staff are professionally trained and have many years experience in the field of addiction and substance misuse.

In 2015 DAS were successful in winning the tender for the provision of Step Two community based services for young people and families who are identified as having substance misuse difficulties. This project is funded by Public Health Agency (PHA) for three to five years. Stepped care is a system of delivering and monitoring treatments, so that the most effective yet least resource intensive, treatment is delivered to service users first. Step Two looks at mild to moderate substance misuse i.e. substance misuse impairing a young person’s day to day functioning.

The title for this project is DA-FACTS ( Drugs, Alcohol – Families, Adults, Children and Teens). Our objective is to reduce physical, emotional and social harm caused by the misuse of substances. Provide support to young people and families affected by substance misuse.

On this project we have three full time staff, which consists of one project coordinator and two Step Two Young Adult and family support workers. We are fortunate to have three additional associate counsellors, an art psychotherapist and coach to compliment our team.

The DA-FACTS project is accessible for individuals aged 11 to 21 who are identified as having substance misuse issues, for individuals 21 to 25 that have been identified as vulnerable or have difficulty integrating into adult treatment services. We also facilitate support for family members/carers of children, teens and young adults who are misusing substances. This incorporates provision of counselling, mentoring, brief interventions, cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interventions, group work and family work.

The DA-FACTS Project is a community based substance misuse service, providing structured talking therapies, comprehensive assessment, care plan, cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interventions, structured counselling, group work and structured family work

Services provided:

Counselling provides a safe and confidential space offering young people the opportunity to talk and think about themselves and concerns in a way that they may not have felt able to do with friends and family. We offer 10 sessions initially which can be reviewed.

Mentoring for young people provides a safe environment where they can share and explore concerns, gain support raise awareness regarding drugs, alcohol and other issues with a trained professional who can guide and inform them. We offer 10 sessions initially which can be reviewed

Group work will look at exploring behaviors, self esteem, drug and alcohol issues and behaviours, consequences of negative behaviors and motivational support. Groups consist of 8 to 10 individuals, delivered over approx 6 to 10 weeks and last from 45mins to 2 hours depending on group make up and requirements.

Family work. Our aim is to strengthen families, increase resources, encourage positive and supportive roles and provide practical information regarding the various substances that are out there, how and why these substances are misused. We support families who have a young person misusing substances and who are engaged in support services. We support families who have a young person misusing substances and are not engaged in services.

Areas covered:

Armagh

Craigavon

Dungannon

Newry and Mourne

This service is delivered from the ABC Community Network's Community Hub, Magharee House, 82 Thomas St, Portadown, BT62 3NU. The DA-FACTS project will receive referrals from statutory agencies & Community / Voluntary organisations. Self referrals are accepted. All referrals agents are updated within 24/48 of referral with Individuals initially contacted with 24/48 hours, first appointments arranged within one to three weeks depending on area and waiting list.